Motor road vehicle



Dec. 4 1923.

A. A. HOLLE MOTOR ROAD VEHICLE Filed Dec. 30. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l mw mm un nm @n @n Mmmm e J Y z l /Umwwl Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

YUNITED STATES ALEXANDER ALBEET ROLLE, 0F PADDINGTON, LONDON, ENGLAND.

MOTOR ROAD VEHICLE.

Application led December 30, 1922. Serial No. 809,867.

To all 'whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER ALBERT HoLLE, a subect of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at 60 Oxford Terrace, Paddington, in the county of London, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Motor RoadVchicles, of which the following is a full and complete specification.

Thisinvention relates to motor road vehicles and has for its object to improve their roadholding qualities and incidentally also their driving. steering and springing qualities by reducing the unsprung weight set in motion'when any one of the road wheels meets with an inequality in the road surface, by causing the front and rear wheels to track at all times whereb the tendency to skid or side-slip is avoide by ensurin under all conditions a constant. degree o castor action of all the road wheels b rendering the steerin independent of a l motion set up by the inequalities of the road surface, by relieving the springs of all functions other than supporting the load` and by eliminating the unstable directional couple which arises in vehicles driven by the rear wheels only. A further ob'ect of this invention is a construction o undercarriage and running gear which is specially adapted for mass production and service maintenance by reason ofthe reduction of the Vnumber of different component parts Which in production affords greater facility in assembling and in service maintenance affords greater facility in the replacement of parts. Other objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates this invention Figs. 1 and 2 are views in side elevation and plan of the complete lay out.

Fig. 3 is a half view in front elevation partly showing one of the axlescarrying the road wheels. l Y y Fig. 4 is a broken view in plan partly in section and on an enlarged scale showing the driving connection between one of the secondary driving shafts and one of the road wheels.

Fig. 5 is a broken half view in plan partly in section and on an enlarged scale showing the driving connection between the main Y f. .driving shaft and one of the secondary driv- Lsvg shafts.'

in section and on an enlarged scale Fig; 6 is a broken view-partly in section the frame 3 of the undercarrage, and said half axles are articulated near their outer Vends by means of vertically arranged pivotal joints the outer ends 4 of-said axles be- Eing shaped and arranged to form stub axles for carrying the road wheels. The half axles `1 are connected to the adjacent sus- .pension springs 5-which may be of the type shown or any other suitable type-by means of links 6 which will permit of the vertical oscillation of said axles relative tothe frame of the undercarriage. A convenient form of pivotal joint comprises a fork 7 carried by the inner patof the half axle,'two vertically arrangd pins 8 and 8 mounted in said fork in axial alignment with one another, a hollow block 9 carrying the outer part 4 of the half axle 1 and having aligned sockets 10 and 10 in which the pins 8 and 8 tit.

` Centrally arranged in relation to the two pairs of road Wheels is a transverse shaft 11 which is carried in suitable bearings in a case 12 mounted in the frame 3. This transverse shaft 11 is driven by bevel or other suitable gearing from the main driving slaft 27 whinh receives it motion throu h a c ange speer aring oft e usualtype rom the power uniteof the vehicle. When a differential gear is employed the shaft 11 is a divided or two-part one, and said gear is interposed-in the well-known manner-between the driving shaft 27 and the two parts of the shaft 11. This transverse 'shaft is in driving connection with the road wheels by means of four diagonally arranged shafts 13 hereinafter for distinction designated propeller shafts. o These propeller shafts each carry two bevel pinions 14 and 15. which latter in alignment with the axis of the vertical pivotal joint of the half axle.

Coacting with the propeller shafts are .torque members which conveniently take the form of tubes 23 which extend between the case 12 of the shaft 11 and the pivotal joints of the half axles 1 the connections to said joints being by means of forks 24 which engage the pins 8 of said joints. In each of said torque tubes 23 is a universal joint 25 which is in axial alignment with the universal joint 21 in the propeller shaft enclosed by said tube.

It will be seen that the transmission gear comprises a centrally located transverse shaft carried by the undercarriage and four V-shaped components all of which are alike and each of which consists essentially of a transverse non-rotating axle and an angularly arranged driving shaft located in a torque member the outer end of said axle being adapted to carry one of the road wheels, and each of said driving shafts beingfidapted to drive one of the road wheels.

n the transverse shaft 1l .are mounted two brake drums 26 and on the main drivin shaft 27 is another brake drum 28 with alof which co-operate braking mechanisms of theusual type.

Eachof thearticulated ends 4 of the half axles 1 is, through the medium of an oll'set lug 29 on the casing 20 and a link 30, connected with one end of a lever 31 which is pivoted at the centre of its length to one of the brackets 2 on the frame 3 by means of a vertically arranged pin 32 which is in axial alignment with the cent're of the joint by which the half axle is pivoted to said frame, the other ends of each pair of said levers 31 at either end of the undercal'riage being cou led by means of a link 33. Secured to t e levers 31. at the opposite ends of the undercarriage and on one side thereof. are arms 34 which are connected by means of links 35 with a pair of opposed arms 36 and 37 mounted on the shaft 38 of the hand controlling mechanism of the steering gear which is of the well-known type.

n order to absorb the horizontal fore and aft com onent of the force resulting from shock rom the Vroad wheels meeting inequalities in the road surface and incidentally to impart the drive through a spring cushion'or bull'er both the propeller shafts 13 and the torque members 23 may each he arranged to telescope as shown in Fig. 6 the former by having the bevel pinion 14 splined on to it and the latter by bei ing splined into a boss 12* on the case 12 adapted to carry said torque member said boss being concentrically arranged in relation to the bearing 18. V Suitable springs 39 and 40 are mounted to operate between a flange 41 on the torque member and suitable fixed abutments carried by the frame 3 one. of which may conveniently be a flange 42 on the boss 12* of the case 12, and the other-not shown in the drawings--may be an annular flange carried. by any suitable part of the frame 3, or of a component mounted thereon.

It is 4understood that this invention is not limited in its broader bases to the exact details of construction s own in the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore described, but that it also includes such changes and modifica-tions as lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim iszj 1. A motor road vehicle of the type in Whiph all four wheels are driven and employed for steering purposes, comprising a transverse shaft driven bythe ower unit and mounted in hearings carried) by a case carried by the frame of the undercarriage, four articulated axles each carrying one of the road wheels each pivoted to the frame of the undercarriage at its inner end and each connected to one of the springs of said undercarriage between its pivoted inner end and its point of articulation, four propeller shafts running between the transverse driving shaft and the road wheels, gearing between the ends of said propeller shafts and said transverse driving shaft on the one hand and the road wheels on the other hand, universal joints in said propeller shafts and four torque members coacting with said propeller shafts and each having a universal joint in alignment. with one of the universal joints in one of said propeller shafts.

2. A motor road vehicle of the type in which all four wheels are driven and employed for steering purposes, comprising a transverse driving shaft driven by the ower unit and mounted in bearings carried by a case carried by the frame of the undercarriage, four articulated axles each carrying one of the road wheels each pivoted to the frame of the under-carriage at its inner end and each connected to one of the springs of. said undercarriage between its pivoted inner end and its point of artieulation, four propeller shafts running between the transverse driving shaft and the road wheels, gearing between said ropeller 'shafts and said transverse driving s iaft and road wheels respectively, two universal joints in each of said propeller'shafts one in alignment with the axis of the vertical pivots of one of the articulated axles and the 'other adjacent to the transverse driving shaft, four .torque membersy eachof which coactsjwith oney of the propeller having afuniversaljoint in alignmentwith the universal joint in 'saidjpropeller ,shaft adjacent= j to tli'ev transverse' drivmgf Shaft con 'l-in,-Inechanism between each pair of roa wllieels, comprising 'two horizontally disposed levers Jpiv'oted' to the Aframe 'of the undercarr,iag`e, rods` couplin' ,each ofjsald leversy withA one ofi the ro'a wheels, a rod coupling saidy levers, arms carriedby vsaid levers, and coupling rods connecting said arms with' arms mountedfon the rockino' shaft of the hand controlling mechanism o the steering gear., 4 4 W 3. A motor yroad vehicle of the type in which allv four wheels iare driven and em# ployed for 'steering' purposes, comprising a transverse'shaft driven byl the power unit and mounted in bearings Ain a case 'carried by the frame of' `the undercarriage (if the vehicle, four axles pivotedj the frame of theunderca'rriage at their inner ends which are connected to the springs nf undercarriageand which Carry'at, their outer Vends vertically arranged pivotshstub axles for carrying theroad wheels carried by Asaid pivots, four propellerf Ishafts runnin be-` tweenthe transverse' driving shaft an the road wheels, caring between the ends of the propeller sha ts and the transverse driving shaft and road wheels respectively, two uni# versa] joints in each` of said Vpropeller shafts one in alignment ywiththe axis of the pivot 'of oneof the stub axles carryingfa road wheel'and the other adjacent to thecase in which the transverse driving shaft isinounted, four torque members, each coacting with one of the propeller shafts and having 'a universal ioint in alignment with the universal joint in said propeller shaft adjacent to the case of the transverse driving shaft,D brake drums mounted on the transverse driving shaft, coupling mechanism between each pair of road wheels, comprising two horizontally disposed levers lpivoted to the frame of the undercarriage, rods coupling each of saidlevers with fone of the road wheels, `a rod coupling said levers, arms carried by said: levers,f and coupling rods connecting saiglrarms with arms mounted. on the rockin ,gishaftA of the' hand controlling mechanism Oilhe Steering gear: f ff i 4- A liwtorV reali vehicle Offtheatyp, in which all four,Wheels are,driven and employed forsteening pur OSes, C ir\111 ii1gma transverseshaftg gadapte te be idrivexr'from the power unit said shaft being mounted in bearigsearrid Aby a Westmount/ed in the frame of the undercarriage of the vehicle centrally in l relation tothe road wheels,:four axles pivotedg at A their vinner ends to the frame hofi the .undercarriage which:v are conf nected to the springs of saidunderearriage and whichy carryfat their enter ends ,verti- .which all four wheels are driven an torque tubefencirclin cally arranged ivots, ,stub axles Acarried by said ivots an p adapted` to carry the road whee s, four diagona ly arranged shafts running between the case of the central driving shaft and the pivots of the stub axles carrying the road wheels, gearing between the ends of said propellerl shafts and the central shaft and road wheels respectively, two universal joints in eahrof said propeller shafts one in alignment `with the' axis' of the pivot ofthe stub axle and the other adjacent to the 'case of the 'transverse driving shaft, a tor ue tube encircling and enclosing each of t e propeller shafts and extending between the case of the transverse driv-A ing shaft and one of the vertical pivots carried by one of the axles carrying one of the road wheels, said tube having a universal jointwin alignni nt with the universal joint inthe 'propeller' aft adjacent to the case of the transverse driving-shaft, brake drums `mounted on the transverse driving shaft, a

pair of horizontally disposed levers pivoted at each end of the frame of the undercarriage, rods coupling each pair of said levers with the stub axles of each pair of road Wheels, rodscoupling the levers of each pair to one other, arms carried by two of said levers one at each end of the frame and on the same side thereof, and coupling rods connecting said arms with arms mounted on the rocking shaft of lthe hand controlling mechanism of the steering gear. j,

5. A motor road vehicle of fthe ty e in employed for steering purposes, comprising a transverse shaft adapted to be driven from th power yu'nit said shaft being mounted in bearings carried by a case mounted' in the frame of theundercarriage of the vehicle centrally in""relation to the road wheels, four axles pivoted at their inner ends to said frame and connected to the springs 0f the undercarriage, vertically arranged pivots carried bythe outer ends of said axles, stub axles for the road wheels carried by said pivots, four telescopic propeller shafts running between the transverse driving shaft and the road Wheels, gearing between the ends of said propeller shafts and the transverse driving shaft and the road wheels respectively1 tivo universal joints in each of said propeller shafts one in alignment with the axis of the pivot of the road wheel andthe other adjacent to `the case of tlre. ,transverse driving shaft, a telescopio i and enclosing each of, the propeller sha s and. extenilingbetween thec`ase",of the transverse shaft and on@ ofthe vertialpivotsfcarl ried ,bj/" onefof theaxles carrying Ue road.

wheels', 'Said mbe having' a universaljoint inJ alignment with the riiversal'rjoint in the propeller-,shaft adjacent to thecase of the transverse driving shaft, a pair of horizontally disposed levers ivoted at each end of the frame ofthe un ercarriage, rods couplin each pair of said levers with the stub axles of each pair'of road wheels, rods coupling the levers of each air to one another, arms carried by two o said levers one at each end of the frame and on the same side thereof, and couplin rods connecting said arms with the han controlling mechanism of the steering gear.

6. ln a motor road vehicle the combination of two divided non-rotating axles for carrying the front and rear roa'd wheels the ,two parts of each divided axle beinghinged to the frame of the undercarriage adjacent to its longitudinal centre line and connected respectively to the front and rear springs of the undercarriage by suitable links, and each of said half axles being articulated by a vertical pivot to form a swinging part adapted to carry one of the road wheels; a differential gear centrally located in the frame of the undercarriage; four propeller shafts connecting the two driven elements of the differential gear with said road wheels, each of said propeller shafts being formed in three parts, the end parts being mounted in bearings carried res )ectively by the casing of the differential1 ear and a casing carried by the articulate end of one of the half axles, and the middle part being connected to said end parts by means of universal joints, the joint connecting the end part adjacent to a road wheel being in alignment with the axis of the vertical pivot of the half axle carrying said road wheel; and four torque members extending. between the casing of the diferential gear and the vertical pivots of the half axles and each having a universal joint coaxial with the universal joint of the propeller shaft adjacent to the differential gear.

7. In a motor road vehicle the combination of two divided non-rotating axles for carrying the front and rear road wheels, the two parts of each divided axle being hinged to the frame of the undercarriage adjacept to its longitudinal centre line and connected respectively to the front and rear springs of the undercarriage by suitablelinks and each of said half axles being'articulated by a vertical pivot to form a swinging part adapted-to` carry one of the road wheels: coupling mechanism between the two road wheels of each pair at the front and rear of the undercarriage respectively comprising two levers pivoted to the frame o the undercarriage, links coupling said levers to the swinging part of the non-rotating axles, a link coupling said two levers together, arms carried by one of said levers at each cnd'of the undercarriage on one side thereof, and rods Vconnecting said coupling mechanism with the. mechanism of the hand control 'of the streeing gear; a differential gear centrally located in the frame of the undercarriage; four propeller shafts conneotin the two driven elements of the differential gear with said road wheels, two of said propeller shafts being in gear with each of said driven elements of the diiferential gear and each of said propeller shafts being formed in three parts the end parts being mounted in bearings carried respectively by the casing of the diiferential gear and a casing carried by the articulated end of one of the half axles, and the middle part being connected to said end parts by means of universal joints, the joint connecting the end part adjacent to a road wheel being in alignment with the axis of the vertical pivot of the half axle carrying said road wheel; and four torque members extending between the casing of the differential gear and the vertical pivots of the half axles and each having a universal joint coaxial with the universal joint of the propeller shaft adjacent to the diferential gear.

8. In a motor road vehicle the combination of two divided non-rotating axles for carrying the front and rear road wheels, the two parts of each divided axle being hinged to the frame of the undercarriafve' adjacent ito its longitudinal centre line and connected respectively to the front and rear springs `of the undercarriage by suitablelinks and eaeli of said half axles being articulated by a veri-fj tical pivot to form a swinging part adapted to carry one of the road wheels; a differential gear centrally located relative to the four road wlfels; four telescopic propeller shafts connecting the two driven elements of the differential gear with said road wheels, each of said shafts being formed in three parts the end parts being mounted in bearings carried respectively by the casing of the differential gear and a casingjcarried by the articulated end of one of the half axles and the middle part being connected to said end parts by means of universal joints, the joint connecting the end part adjacent to a road wheel being in alignment with the axis of the vertical pivot of the half axle carrying said road wheel; four telescopic torque members extending between the casing of the differential gear and the vertical pivots of the half axles and each having a universal joint coaxial with the universal joint of the driving shaft adjacent to the differential gear' and springs acting axiallv between each o said torque members an fixed abutments carried by the frame.

9. In a motor road vehicle the combination of two divided non-rotating axles for carrying the front and rear road wheels, the two parts of each divided axle being hinged to the frame of the undercarriage adjacent to its longitudinal centre line and connected respectively to the front and rear springs of lll the undercarriage by suitable links and each of said half axles being articulated by a vertical pivot to form a swinging part adapted to carry one of the road wheelsacoupling mechanism between the two road wheels ot' each pair at the front and rear of the undercarriage res ectively comprising two levers pivoted to t e frame ot the undercarriage, inks coupling said levers to the swinging parts of the divided non-rotating axles, a ink coupling said two levers together arms carried by one of said levers at each end of the undercaa'riage on one, side thereof, and rods connecting said cou ling mechanism with the hand control of t e steering mechanism; a differential gear centrally located in the frame of the undercarriage; four dia onally arranged telescopic propeller sha s connecting the two driven elements of the differential gear with said road wheels, two of said shafts being in gear with each of said driven elements of the differential gear and each of said shafts being formed in three arts, the end parts bein mounted in bearings carried respectively y the casing of the di erential gear and a casing carried by the articulated part of one of the non-rotating axles, and the middle part being connected to said end parts by means of universal joints, the joint connecting the end part adjacent to a road wheel being in alignment with the axis of the vertical pivot of' the nonrotating axle carrying said road wheel; tour telescopic torque members extending between the' casing of the differential gear and the vertical pivots of the non-rotating axles and each having a universal joint coaxial with the universal joint of the driving shaft ad'acent to the differential gear; and two ba anced springs acting axially between each of said torque members and fixed abutments carried by the frame of the undercarriage.

10. In an undercarriage for motor road vehicles the combination with the frame of suspension springs carried by said frame, two divided non-rotating axles for carrying the front and rear road wheels, the two parts of each said axle being hinged respectively to the front and rear part of said frame adjacent to its longitudinal centre line, and connected to the adjacent suspension springs by suitable links, each of said half axles being articulated by a vertical pivot to form a swinging part adapted to carry one of the road wheels; a differential gear centrally located in the frame of the underearriage in relation to the four road wheelerV feurydiagonally arranged propeller shafts connecting the two driven elements of said differential gear with the road wheels, two of said propeller shafts being in gear with each of said driven elements of the differential gear and each of said propeller shafts being formed in three parts the end parts being mounted in bearings carried respectively by the casing of the differential gear and the articulated part of one of the non-rotating axles` and the middle part being connected to said end parts by means of universal joints one of which connecting the end part ot' each shaft adjacent to a road wheel being in alignment with the axis of the vertical pivot, f the articulated end of said nonrotating shaft; four torque tubes enclosing the propeller shafts and extending between the casing of the differential gear and the ends of the non-rotating axles adjacent to their vertical pivots, and each having a universal joint coaxial with the universal joint of the driving shaft adjacent to the differential gear; brake drums mounted on the driving and driven elements of the differential gear; and coupling mechanism between each pair of road wheels comprising two levers pivoted to the frame of the undercarriage by longitudinally arranged pivots, links coupling said levers to the swinging parts of the non-rotating axles, a link coupling said two levers together, arms carried by one of said levers at each end of the undercarriage on the same side thereof and rods connecting said coupling mechanism with the controlling mechanism of the steering gear.

l1. A driving gear for motor road vehicles comprising in combination with a centrally arranged transverse driving shaft mounted in bearings carried hy the traine of the undercarriage, four identical components each consisting of an axle transversely arranged in relation to the traine of the undercarriage and connected to one of the springs of said undercarriage said axle being pivoted at its inner end to said frame, a stub axle adapted to carry one of the road wheels pivoted to the half axle b v a vertically disposed pivotal joint, a torque member extending between the frame of the undercarriage adjacent to the central driving shaft and the outer end of the half axle7 said torque member being irovided with a single universal joint. and a proeller shaft coacting with said torque memer and coupling the central drivingr shaft with one of the road wheels through suitable aring; said propeller shaft being providetlzvith two universal joints om` in alignment with the axis of the pivotal joint by which the stub axle is pivoted to its half axle and the other in alignment with the universal 'oint in the torque member.

12. A rivin gear for motor road vehicles-oomprising in combination with a centrally arranged transverse shaft mounted in `bearings carried by the frame of the undercarriage, four identical components each consisting of an axle transve ely arranged in relation to the frame of the undercarriage and connected to one of the iii.

springs of said undercarriage by links said axle being pivofed at its inner end to said frame by a horizontally and longitudinally disposed pivot so that it can oscillate in a vertical dirertion only` a stub axle adapted lo Jarry one of the road Wheels pivoted to the half axle by a vertically disposed pivotal joint. a propeller shaft operating through gearing between the central driving shaft and one of the road wheels said propeller shaft being provided with tWo universal joints and a torque member eooperating with eaeh of said propeller shafts and extending between the frame of the underearriage adjacent to the Central driving shaft and the outer end of the half axle. i

lfl. driving gear for motor road vehieles eoniprising in combination with a common differential gear mounted in the frame of the vehicle eutrally in relation to the four road wheels. four identical oomponents earl: consisting of an axle transversely arranged in relation to the frame of the underearriage aud connected to one of the springs of said underearriage said axle being pivoted at its limer end to said frame` a stub axle adapted to earl-y one of the road wheels pivoted to the half axle by a vertically disposed pivotal joint. a teleseopie torque member extending between the ease of the differential gear and the outer end of' the half axle said torque member being provided with a universal joint. a telescopic propeller shaft operatingl through bevel gearing between one of the driven elements of the differential gear and one of the road wheels. said shaft being provided with two universal joints one in alignment with the axis of the pivotal joint by wliirh the sinh axle is pivoted to the half" axle and the other in alignment with the universal joint in the torque member. and a pair of balaneed springs operating axially between said toi-jue member and two fixed ahutulents earried by the frame of the underearriage.

14. For motor road vehicles a transmission gear fomprisiug a differential gear, four identieal eomponents each consisting of an artieulated axle transversely arranged in relation to the frame of the undercarriage and connected to one of the springs of said underearriage said axle being adapt`m ed to earry one of the road wheels. a torque tube extending between the ease of' the differential gear and said axle said tube being pivoted to said axle at its point of articulation and being provided with a unlversal joint` and a propeller shaft located in said torque tube and operating between one of the driven elements of the diferen tial gear and one of the road wheels said shaft boing provided with two universal joints one in alignment with the axis of the articulation of the half axle and the other in alignment with the universal joint in the torque tube.

15. ln a transmission gear for motor road vehicles the combination With a differential gear, of four identical components each oonsistin of a half axle transversely arranged in re ation to and pivoted by a longitudinally arranged pivot to the frame of the underearriage, a link coupling said half axle to one of the suspension Springs, a st nb axle adapted to carry one of the road Wheels pivoted to the half axle by a vertically disposed pivotal joint, a torque member which extends between the case of the differential gear and the outer end of the half axle and pivoted to Said half axle by the same pivot as the stub axle is hinged to said half axle said torque member being provided with a universal joint which is so located that its axis is interseeted by the longitudinal axis of the pivot by which the inner end of the half axle is pivoted to the frame of the undercarriage, and a propeller shaft oper, ating through toothed crearin between one of the driven elements of tie differential gear and one of the road wheels said shaft being provided with two universal joints, one in alignment with the axis of the pivotal joint by which the stub axle is pivoted lo the half axle and the other in alignment with the universal joint 'in the torque member.

1G. In a transmission gear for motor road vehicles the rombination with a differential gear, of fouiidentical components each consisting of a half axle transversely arranged in relation, and pivoted by a longitudinallv arranged pivot to the frame of the underoarriage; a linkf coupling said half axle to one of the suspension springs' a sinh axle adapted to carry one of the roa wheels pivoted to the half axle hy a vertieally disposed pivotal joint; a telescopio propeller shaft operating between one of the driven elements of the differential gear and one of the road wheels through suitable gearing; a telescopio torque member coasting with said ropeller shaft said torque members exten ing between the case of the differential gear and the outer end of the half axle and being spring loaded axially in opposite directions both said propeller shaft and said torque members being rovided with universal joints the latter av ing one located in proximity to the ease of the differential gear and the former havin two universal joints, one in alignment. Wit the axis of the pivotal joint by Whieh the stub axle is pivoted to the half axle and the other in alignment with the universal joint in the tor ne member.

ALEXAN ER ALBERT HGLLE. 

